Monthly Archives: February 2015

Post navigation

Hope everyone had nothing short of an outstanding week! Its time once again for the FMI Weekly Roundup.

Here are some informative articles to help your job search:

My SA published an article last week, “10 Best Jobs for Veterans” which has some great ideas for those of you who are looking for a new career or are in the process of transition from the military to civilian life. Check the article out here…

Here is something I bet you did not know. Some military personnel who have transitioned out of the military have taken a fast-track training program at Fred Astaire Dance Studios. In just a few months (that’s right MONTHS) they have gone from knowing little-to-nothing about dance to being actual dance instructors. In a VERY short amount of time they moved up to managing, owning a franchise and now to being among the top producing studios in the company. What we have found at Forward March Inc. is that military personnel are especially suited not only for the training and becoming instructors themselves, but becoming highly successful in the company. Forward March Inc. has an outstanding relationship with our customer Fred Astarie Dance Studios. You owe it to yourself to check out our previous post to learn more about the outstanding opportunities for employment and even franchise ownership with them.

For veterans who want to learn a new skill, or expand on a skill-set should check out the fine folks over at Workforce Solutions Alamo and Alamo Colleges are collaborating to offer short-term skills development programs in the areas of Information Technology, the Manufacturing Industry and Aerospace. Learn more here.

Join Forward March Inc. and local businesses and organizations in an exciting FREE workshopwhich will help you learn how to find, attract, hire and retain high quality military talent. This powerful training will get you up and running very quickly which will make your job of finding, hiring and retaining top talent so much easier.

Nobody trains like Forward March Inc!

“This is one of, if not the best military recruiting seminar I have participated in. I can appreciate the validity of the information not only because of the initiative to support our American Heroes’ transition into the civilian world, but also because it is put together by some of our American Heroes. The military background your team possesses inspires us to believe in the message and motivates a person to want to do more!”– Military Hiring 101 Workshop participant

When: Wednesday, March 4, 2015 1pm to 4pm

Where: 11710 Warfield St, San Antonio, TX, 78216

Get the information and tools you need to succeed in hiring the very best military candidates for your company or organization. Our highly successful solutions are base on the proven military leadership models and systematic approach to organizational growth that Forward March Inc. is known for.

Military Hiring 101 Workshop Agenda:

• Where to find Military Talent
• Attracting Military
• Hiring Military
• Retaining Military
• Practical Exercises
• Access to professionals with over 35 years of experience connecting companies and veterans
• Network with other companies and organizations committed to the cause of hiring veterans

Forward March Inc. is a company of veterans committed to help veterans. There is NO COMMITMENT NECESSARY TO PURCHASE/BUY/USE OUR SERVICES WITH THIS TRAINING WORKSHOP. Yes, we would like to have you as a customer, but our commitment is to getting veterans into careers. That is why we are committed to getting this powerful training in as many businesses as we can.

Space is limited and these workshops fill up fast so contact Forward March Inc. today!

Forward March Inc. is also hosting a Hawaiian Mixer at our Worldwide Headquarters

When: Wednesday, March 4, 2015 from 5pm to 7pm

Where: 11710 Warfield St, San Antonio, TX, 78216

Come and meet other people and companies who have a passion for helping veterans. This is a chance to relax and have some fun while networking with other companies and organizations who share your desire to help our nation’s wounded warriors.

Just ask anyone who has come to any Forward March Inc. event, they are always glad they came. Come join us for good food, great networking, and an outstanding time.

We will be selling raffle tickets for a door prize. All the money raised will go to ourOperation Outreach Maui Warrior Appreciation Vacation. This vacation gives selected wounded warriors the opportunity to go to Maui for an all expenses paid vacation. You can learn more about this Operation Outreach project HERE and HERE.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, our country started 2015 with veteran unemployment at 5.3% with a combined national unemployment rate of 5.7%. While this is great news, there is a group of veterans that suffer from a higher unemployment rate than their peers. Despite their service to our country, female veteran unemployment and under-employment remains high.

As a former U.S. Army Artilleryman, I love the story of Mary Hays, better known as Molly Pitcher, whose husband was an artilleryman during the revolutionary war. At the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778, Mary Hayes carried water to line of cannons for both drinking and cooling down the barrels.

When her husband fell under intense enemy fire, Molly Pitcher stepped up and continued to in his position on the gun. Despite the danger, she continued the fight. For her efforts, General George Washington appointed her as a noncommissioned officer and she was referred to a Sergeant Molly, a title she used until her death in 1832.

With over 2.2 million female veterans, women make up 10% of the nation’s veteran population and those numbers grow steadily each year. The unemployment rate for women veterans as a whole has decreased but still remains higher than non-Veteran women. Many of these veterans are single parents which further exacerbates the problem.

The good news is, thanks to the rigorous and excellent training that our service members receive, our female veterans are well positioned to offer employers the gift of an enhanced and effective workforce. The importance of the skills, values, and attributes a female veteran brings to your organization cannot be understated.

So why hire a women veteran?

They are proven leaders not just in theory, but practice.

They have the proven ability to face adversity.

They work well as team and understand how the efforts of each member contribute to the overall success of the organization.

They understand and practice diversity in the workplace.

They are generally physically fit and drug free.

They are calm under pressure.

They have respect for policies, procedures, and regulations.

They have an applied use and understanding of technology.

They have a Global perspective of most situations.

They are men and women of Integrity and hold shared values.

They are experts in the application of Health and Safety standards.

They are generally well-educated.

They have a mission first attitude and get the job done.

They are expert planners.

They love a good challenge.

Finding, attracting, hiring, and retaining women veterans is a skill that companies looking for the highest caliber employees simply must have. Forward March not only trains top companies to do this, but we have also created a Military Talent Hiring Guide that teaches organizations the basics of military talent acquisition and retention. If your organization is truly dedicated to hiring female veterans, leave it to FMI to help make it happen.

You want to hire military talent for your organization or company but where do you start?

There are many organizations and companies, even staffing companies, who claim to be able to bring veteran talent to your company. Forward March Inc. offers a unique and highly successful approach for organizations of any size. We can provide the talent and we can build a pipeline of talent. We can train your HR team how to find, attract, hire and retain high quality military talent. That is a huge difference between us and them,we give you a proven plan for your mission success.

Come and learn how to get started with veteran hiring FOR FREE. Yes, that’s right, our Military Hiring 101 Workshops are FREE OF CHARGE for companies and organizations.

“This is one of, if not the best military recruiting seminar I have participated in. I can appreciate the validity of the information not only because of the initiative to support our American Heroes’ transition into the civilian world, but also because it is put together by some of our American Heroes. The military background your team possesses inspires us to believe in the message and motivates a person to want to do more!”
– Military Hiring 101 Workshop participant

Join us Wednesday, March 4, 2015 1pm to 4pm, for our Military Hiring 101 Workshop. Get the information and tools you need to succeed in hiring the very best military candidates for your company or organization. Our highly successful solutions are base on the proven military leadership models and systematic approach to organizational growth that Forward March Inc. is known for.

Military Hiring 101 Workshop Agenda:

• Where to find Military Talent
• Attracting Military
• Hiring Military
• Retaining Military
• Practical Exercises
• Access to professionals with over 35 years of experience connecting companies and veterans
• Network with other companies and organizations committed to the cause of hiring veterans

Forward March Inc. is a company of veterans committed to help veterans. There is NO COMMITMENT NECESSARY TO PURCHASE/BUY/USE OUR SERVICES WITH THIS TRAINING WORKSHOP. Yes, we would like to have you as a customer, but our commitment is to getting veterans into careers. That is why we are committed to getting this powerful training in as many businesses as we can.

Space is limited and these workshops fill up fast so contact Forward March Inc. today!

Forward March Inc. is also hosting a Hawaiian Mixer at our Worldwide Headquarters

Forward March Inc. is also hosting a Hawaiian Mixer at our Worldwide Headquarters

When: Wednesday, March 4, 2015 from 5pm to 7pm

Where: 11710 Warfield St, San Antonio, TX, 78216

Come and meet other people and companies who have a passion for helping veterans.

Just ask anyone who has come to any Forward March Inc. event, they are always glad they came. Come join us for good food, great networking, and an outstanding time.

We will be selling raffle tickets for a door prize. All the money raised will go to ourOperation Outreach Maui Warrior Appreciation Vacation. This vacation gives selected wounded warriors the opportunity to go to Maui for an all expenses paid vacation. You can learn more about this Operation Outreach project HERE and HERE.

RSVP with Emma at Forward March Inc. for more information – Send Email

Here is something I bet you did not know.Some military personnel who have transitioned out of the military have taken a fast-track training program at Fred Astaire Dance Studios. In just a few months (that’s right MONTHS) they have gone from knowing little-to-nothing about dance to being actual dance instructors. In a VERY short amount of time they moved up to managing, owning a franchise and now to being among the top producing studios in the company. What we have found at Forward March Inc. is that military personnel are especially suited not only for the training and becoming instructors themselves, but becoming highly successful in the company. Forward March Inc. has an outstanding relationship with our customer Fred Astarie Dance Studios. You owe it to yourself to check out our previous post to learn more about the outstanding opportunities for employment and even franchise ownership with them.

For veterans who want to learn a new skill, or expand on a skill-set should check out the fine folks over at Workforce Solutions Alamo and Alamo Colleges are collaborating to offer short-term skills development programs in the areas of Information Technology, the Manufacturing Industry and Aerospace. Learn more here.

I’ve known I’ve had Post Traumatic Stress (some call it a “disorder”…but not me), and Traumatic Brain Injury (from blast / concussion injuries) for decades – but I was strong enough to manage it on my own – didn’t need any coddling or help from anyone else. I wasn’t one of those weak, attention seeking veterans whining about how tough they had it in “the war”, and how rough it was back here at home trying to “adjust”.

After all, I had been the Sergeant Major of Marine Forces Pacific, the highest Combatant Command in the Marines (overseeing 2/3 of the combat capabilities of the Marine Corps) – and was a highly decorated, combat wounded veteran of 30 years’ service in multiple wars / conflicts (both active and reserve).

I had also been a member of the federal Senior Executive Service, and a Director in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; a former Vice President and President/CEO in the corporate world; and a former candidate for United States Congress (TX-15).

Obviously, I didn’t have any problems…

Not that I was unsympathetic. With 22 Veterans / servicemembers a day committing suicide (that figures out to one killing themselves every 65 minutes), the toll is intolerable. Can you imagine if that many were dying in combat during the wars – the media and the public would go ballistic! But since its suicide, the numbers are shamefully underreported by media, and unrecognized by most of the public.

I became involved in trying to slow those numbers down, save lives, and reduce the unprecedented numbers of homeless veterans as the Vice-Chairman of the Board for Veterans 360 (www.vets360.org), an organization focused on saving lives by helping post-911 service members and Veterans with PTS and TBI issues. It wasn’t until Vets360 put out a survey to try and identify those with PTS, and I took it just for the heck of it, that I realized just how affected I was. When my survey came back, the Executive Director called me to ask if I was seeing anyone, concerned that I might be suicidal – because I “redlined” the survey (maxed out the results for PTS). I’ve never been suicidal, but that got me thinking.

I realized that once I had retired, I had begun spending more and more time in my chair, sometimes days at a time, and only getting up once or twice a day for food when I couldn’t avoid it anymore. I also realized that starting with my return from the Gulf War (1991) I had been increasingly isolating myself from family and friends, and that had only gotten worse with my trips to Bosnia, Kosovo, my activation for Op Enduring Freedom in 2002, and my time in Iraq in 2005-2006. In retrospect…I realized I had actually been having significant problems since my return to the U.S. in the mid 70’s after my first deployment… I was in serious trouble, and needed help.

I had applied to the VA for benefits / treatment in 1977, 1986, 1991, 2001, 2011, and 2013…and to date, have never received any benefits or treatment from them. Even with my Purple Heart paperwork and combat related medical records, they classified my injuries as “not service connected”… It was up to me to find my own help.

Someone recommended a service dog, so I researched it online, looking for dogs specific to PTS and TBI, and that is how I found K9s For Warriors(www.k9sforwarriors.org), a fantastic organization who pairs rescue dogs with post-911 Warriors. I contacted them, and went through a very detailed application and vetting process, and was accepted into the January 2015 class. I had no idea what I had let myself in for.

As K9s says, “We rescue the dogs, they rescue their warriors.” They use mostly rescue dogs (mine came from a high-kill shelter in Kentucky), train them for several months, and then give them additional training to help with the specific issues that their future Warrior partner has listed on their application. Once the Warrior (K9s’ terminology for the human half of the K9 team) arrives, s/he begins the three week intensive, live-in, total immersion training, where the teams bond, are trained to work with each other, the human partner is trained to continue the K9 partner’s training and certification…and the magic happens.

I remember the moment I first met Freedom…my K9 partner. I can’t describe the overwhelming joy I felt when he came directly to me, licked my hand, and sat by my side. We quickly became inseparable, and a completely bonded team.

Many of these Warriors are early in their recovery, and have significant issues with crowds, noises, ambient movement, etc…and as happens in each class, most of them (myself included) have episodes or even melt-downs during the training evolution. K9s is well equipped to recognize the signs, pull the team aside and mitigate the issue, and then put them right back up in the saddle to continue to gain exposure and training. The biggest factor is the dog – your partner. Often they recognize the signs before you do yourself, and take action to get you focused, on track, and feeling safe and not isolated.

This does not come cheap. K9s, like all non-profit organizations, works at finding funding every single day to save these rescue dogs lives, and provide the training and service that can help save Veteran’s / servicemember’s lives. To put a single K9 Service Team through costs thousands of dollars. Luckily…my Team was sponsored by Petsmart (www.petsmart.com), one of the corporate sponsors that have stepped forward. Petsmart not only sponsored my Team, but continues to work with and help fund the K9s for Warriors program.

Since returning home, Freedom and I have continued to bond (I didn’t think it could get any deeper, but it does) and work, play, and go everywhere together. I’ve begun to re-establish the connections with family and friends that I had withdrawn from, and recapture the life I had let slip away. I now see with clear eyes just how far I had let it go – and how much trouble I was actually in. When he came into my life, I gained Freedom from a hard downhill slide, and now look forward to helping to “de-stigmatize” PTS and TBI, which as I mentioned in my earlier post (Lets Get Real about PTS and TBI), is “a normal reaction to an abnormal situation”.

Forward March Inc. is very proud to repost this article with permission from Mr. Kuiken. You can, and should, read more of Author and Speaker James Kuiken’s posts here

“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out out be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. “
– Douglas McArthur

Leadership makes a difference. Maybe its your little league team mates that rally behind the third base man because of his third grade charisma. Maybe its that college professor you had that taught lessons “outside the box” and opened your eyes to a new way of seeing. Perhaps it was that Master Sergeant that trained you and your team how to prioritize and organize your actions for mission success. Maybe leadership strikes much closer, in the home, as you model the kind of integrity and behavior a grown man or woman should have for your children. No matter where you look, leadership makes a difference.

Leadership makes a difference. Not everyone can be a successful leader, at least not in every instance. One thing that all five branches of the military teach is that effective leadership can be trained. For more than two hundred years the military of the United States has been developing, honing, and deploying methods of leadership that have resulted in the finest military the world has known to date. Those who leave military service with strong leadership training go on to adapt their leadership skills to civilian life. Companies who hire these veterans with strong leadership skills benefit greatly from having them in their organization, but that is another article.

Like all successful companies and organizations you are looking for strong leadership in your company and that comes from quality leadership training.

Leader development refers to enhancing leadership effectiveness, both at the individual and organization as a whole. Leadership development activities range from MBA style programs offered at university business schools to action learning, high-ropes courses and executive retreats.

Traditionally, leadership development has focused on developing the leadership abilities and attitudes of individuals. Just as people are not all born with the ability or desire to play sports, not all people are natural born leaders. Different personal traits and characteristics can help or hinder a person’s leadership effectiveness and require formalized programs for developing leadership competencies. Everyone can develop his or her leadership effectiveness which takes focus, practice and persistence more akin to learning a musical instrument than reading a book.

Classroom-style training and associated reading is effective in helping leaders to know more about what is involved in leading well. However, knowing what to do and doing what you know are two very different outcomes. It is estimated that as little as 15% of learning from traditional classroom style training results in sustained behavioral change within the workplace.

Why is it important to you?

Simply put, leadership training gives you

Substantive measurable results

Boosts performance

Higher quality mission execution

Boosted morale and motivation

Implementation of proven best practices for leadership

Quality training from highly experienced trainers

If your leadership training program does not boost performance, execution and motivation then you have the wrong form of leadership training in place. Quality leadership training will boost performance, quality of execution and motivation. Military influenced leadership training can employ best practices that have been developed over a very long period of time by the military. Quality military leadership trainers bring experience in “connecting” the information to the trainee in a way that insures a greater return on investment through a higher and more consistent grade of leaders.

Where can you find leadership training that gets results?

We grow leaders like no other! With over 110 years of military leader development experience behind us, let Forward March Inc., help you achieve your leader development goals. We offer varied types of training courses tailored around your needs, ranging from one-on-one professional coaching, to on-site group training, that bring a “boot-camp” style of training with a fun flair. It’s not just training, it’s a commitment to organizational excellence!